Konami closes Kojima Productions LA studio

Konami has confirmed the closure of Kojima Productions LA, with 35 people losing their jobs.

The publisher did note that it will still continue to support Metal Gear Online mode for Phantom Pain, which had been the main reason that Kojima LA was still open.

"Konami has made the decision to close its Los Angeles Studio, effective immediately, due to the product development resources being restructured into a more centralized unit. This facility contributed to the recent Metal Gear Solid games. Konami will continue its operations to support all Metal Gear Solid titles, including the recently launched Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online. Metal Gear Online is still scheduled to release for PC Steam in January 2016," added the publisher.

The latest move is just the next step in an escalating feud between Konami and legendary developer Hideo Kojima in which the new Silent Hill sequel was canceled and Kojima was allegedly fired during the development of Metal Gear.